Geek Syndicate Issue 7 | Page 107

Geek Syndicate monsters vs Monsters stick of the studio Marvel films and goes with something a little… different. The battle is FAR more entertaining because of it. Hit Girl vs Mother Russia is for sure the fight of the year to date. Image © Universal Pictures, 2013 Image © Universal Pictures, 2013 Mother Russia - Hit Girl’s new nemesis? Kick Ass 2 ... Kicking Ass? Carey’s on Form Image © Universal Pictures, 2013 Image © Universal Pictures, 2013 Aaron Taylor and Chloë Moretz duke it out in training. the streets, the world’s first super villain assembles his own evil league and puts a plan in motion to make Kick-Ass and Hit Girl pay for what they did to his father. Looking at the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes this morning, I was shock to see this film sitting at a paltry 28%. That’s less than the critically mauled Lone Ranger. Especially surprising as I thought, overall, this was a much more enjoyable film that the original Kick Ass, less concerned about looking cool, shocking for shock’s sake and shouting “I Was Based on a Really Cool Comic Book Don’t You Know” and more about just interesting characters in even more interesting situations. In fact, as much as I loved Iron Man 3, for me Kick Ass 2 is the best superhero film of 2013. Cool in its own way, with characters I actually cared about. Okay, so apparently it’s toned down from the comic (I’m not sure we really needed the gang rape of a main character) but as I’m not a fan of the source material that doesn’t really bother me. Moreover, the fact that it doesn’t just set out to shock is for me what stands out about its predecessor. Kick Ass 2 also has some strong action sequences, not least a Good Guys Vs Bad Guys battle that loses the now standard CGI On the subject of Hit Girl, Props go to Chloe Grace Mortez who once again shines and shows that, as long as she doesn’t go all Lohan, she has an amazing and probably award winning career in front of her. Also a massive shout out for Jim Carey who delivers the best performance of his twilight career, even if he was too much of an arse to promote the film (even though his whinging actually created even more publicity for the movie, rather than detracting from it … ). MintzPlasse is also great as the selftitled Mother F*cker, even if he does just deliver the TradeMarked Mintz-Plasse performance. With assured but not overly showy direction, some social commentary about what it is to fit in, a host of solid action sequences and characters you actually care for, Kick Ass 2 is that rare beast of both a sequel that ends up being more enjoyable that the original and a superhero film that didn’t feel the need to collapse into a CGI want fest. In short: F*ck the critics, f*ck the source material. Just go make up your own mind. You may be pleasantly surprised. Phil Hobden Rating GGGGG 107